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US 8,397,745 B2Granted
Fluid activated flow control apparatus
AssigneeColt Irrigation, LLC
InventorJames Walter Hurst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a fluid flow regulating device and methods of using the same are described. Certain embodiments manages fluid flow between one or more input ports and output ports at least partly in response to fluid pressure changes and/or by a mechanism driven by fluid flow, optionally without using electrical power.
Claims14
A method for managing fluid flow in an output valve, comprising:
- providing a fluid pressure controlled actuator having a first housing and the first housing having a threaded connector configured to removably engage a threaded receiving area of an output valve having a second housing, the threaded connector providing a fluid conduit to the output valve second housing when the threaded connecter is screwed into the threaded receiving area of the output valve second housing;
- receiving at the fluid pressure controlled actuator a first input flow of pressurized fluid;
- directing, by the fluid pressure controlled actuator, at least a portion of the first input flow of pressurized fluid into a first chamber of the fluid pressure controlled actuator wherein the first input flow of pressurized fluid causes first expansion of a first diaphragm within the first chamber of the fluid pressure controlled actuator;
- at least partly in response to the first diaphragm first expansion,
- opening a previously closed first fluid passage in the first housing to cause, at least in part, fluid to flow through the threaded connector from the output valve second housing to actuate the output valve to a first position;
- receiving at the fluid pressure controlled actuator a pressure reduction of the first input flow of pressurized fluid;
- after the pressure reduction of the first input flow of pressurized fluid, receiving at the fluid pressure controlled actuator a second input flow of pressurized fluid;
- directing, by the fluid pressure controlled actuator, at least a portion of the second input flow of pressurized fluid into the first chamber of the fluid pressure controlled actuator wherein the second input flow of pressurized fluid causes a second expansion of the first diaphragm within the first chamber of the fluid pressure controlled actuator;
- at least partly in response to the first diaphragm second expansion,
- obstructing the first fluid passage to interrupt the fluid flow through the threaded connector from the output valve second housing, causing, at least in part, the output valve to actuate to a second position wherein the second position is spaced apart from the first position.
7 more elements
A fluid regulator, comprising:
- one or more fluid inlets configured to receive a first flow of pressurized fluid;
- one or more fluid outlets;
- one or more diaphragms including a first diaphragm;
- one or more fluid passages including a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage;
- a first housing having a threaded connector configured to removably engage a threaded receiving area of an output valve having a second housing, the threaded connector providing a fluid conduit to the output valve second housing when the threaded connecter is screwed into the threaded receiving area of the output valve second housing;
- an actuator configured to, without utilizing an electrically powered component:
- open an output valve to provide a fluid flow path between the at least one of the one or more fluid inlets and the at least one of the one or more fluid outlets at least partly in response to:
- a first flow of pressurized fluid received via the at least one of the one or more fluid inlets,
- first expansion of a first diaphragm caused at least in part by the first flow of pressurized fluid received via the at least one of the one or more fluid inlets,
- an opened first fluid passage in the first housing caused at least in part by the first expansion of the first diaphragm, and
- a fluid flow through the threaded connector from the output valve second housing;
- the actuator further configured to, without utilizing an electrically powered component, close the output valve to obstruct the fluid flow path at least partly in response to:
- an interruption of the first flow of pressurized fluid received via the inlet,
- a subsequent, relative to the interruption of the first flow, second flow of pressurized fluid received via the one or more fluid inlets,
- a second expansion of the first diaphragm caused at least in part by the second flow of pressurized fluid received via the at least one of the one or more fluid inlets and
- a closed second fluid passage interrupting the fluid flow through the threaded connector from the output valve second housing caused at least in part by the second expansion of the first diaphragm.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.